‘No, most subtle of men; but your suspicions lie in a different groove. What care I for your Livia, or Caesar himself, or the windings of your politics, or the bubblings of your ambition—for you have ambition, Prefect, and a goodly share thereof——’
‘Let him herd with oxen who has not.’
‘I care nothing for these; I am too content with, and intent upon, the affairs of my own small world——’
‘Which is the rosy realm of Venus—go on!’ quoth he drily; ‘we shall, probably, now hear what this has to do with Tiberius. He is an old pensioner of the bright goddess.’
‘Fool—nothing whatever! I want to know who is going with you to Capreae.’
‘You have taken a strange method of proceeding in your quest. I shall not tell you, sweet lady; you may await the tidings of that same trusty bird again.’
‘I know already.’
‘Wonders upon wonders! The gods preserve you to the earth! Wherefore did you ask, then?’
‘To catch you tripping, if possible.’
‘I should grieve to disappoint you, beauteous Plautia, astute as you are lovely; but I cannot avoid it, for I know not myself who are to be my companions.’